For Teachers

There are so many untapped resources for teachers in Delaware from ideas for the classroom, to field trips, even training! Below is a list of those resources, let me know if you end up using them (I hope you do!)

DASEF programs teach the responsible use of technology, along with stewardship of our planet and its resources. We endeavor to teach children and their families the importance of using science and technology in a way that appreciates and respects the earth — and its most valuable resource: people.

The Delaware Forest Services operates and manages education centers at Redden State Forest and Blackbird State Forest. These facilities house a variety of interactive displays about Delaware’s forests and their management, and provide a comfortable work area for students and teachers to participate in educational activities. Each facility features a classroom for indoor meetings and activities as well as outdoor educational trails for a more dynamic learning experience. The education facilities are open by appointment only on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The Delaware Forest Service offers Smokey Bear programs each October to all of Delaware’s first-grade classes upon request to help prevent wildfires. In addition, Smokey Bear makes appearances at special events promoting fire safety (fire company open houses, parades, safety fairs, etc.) Due to federal licensing arrangements, Smokey Bear is not permitted to appear at special events in which fire safety is NOT a primary message.

The Delaware Forest Service sponsors an annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for Delaware school children in grades K-4. In addition, we administer a national poster contest sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 5th graders. Poster contest information packets are mailed every December/January, with awards presented in April during our annual Arbor Day Ceremony. The Delaware Forest Service also distributes free pine seedlings annually to Delaware elementary school children on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Seeing Science Everywhere program teaches early childhood educators how to promote the process of scientific inquiry and implement the Seeing Science Everywhere lessons in their classrooms. This program focuses on common topics in Early Learning providing opportunities for hands-on exploration. Participants in program sessions receive complimentary samples of Seeing Science Everywhere Lessons and an introduction to the PNC Grow Up Great Lesson Center. The sessions can be taken individually for $20 each.

Discover nature with our hands-on, inquiry-based, and age-appropriate education programs. We offer over 100 lessons, aligned with STEM and Common Core State Standards, on a broad range of topics with emphasis in areas of science, agriculture, and history. Lessons complement and reinforce school curriculum for all grade levels and can be customized to suit your time and cost constraints.

Delaware State Parks are great places for students and teachers to explore nature and history. With 16 parks, five historic sites and many natural areas, Delaware State Parks offer you a comprehensive view of our state’s natural and historical heritage. We strive to provide responsible stewardship of the lands and the cultural and natural resources that we have been entrusted to protect and manage, along with quality learning experiences for students of all ages.
Contact your park interpreter about any program policies pertaining to specific parks and programs. Some parks offer scholarships or free bus opportunities for classrooms that qualify. Park staff is happy to help you with picnic ideas and any special considerations you might have.

Field trip opportunities for schools and youth organizations are offered from April through September. Students participate in the estuary ecosystems program Life at the Edge. Structured tours of the DuPont Nature Center also are offered from April through September. Visitors will acquire detailed information about the Delaware Bayshore region.Every Kid in a Park (Fourth Graders Only)
As a fourth-grade educator, you can download an activity and print paper passes for each of your students. This program only provides passes for fourth graders.

The Fair Hill Nature Center is very proud of its 26 year partnership with Cecil County Public Schools. We are continually striving to ensure a safe, fun and enriching field trip experience for each and every one of your students. In the spirit of fostering a smooth field trip and planning process, we have composed a list of documents to help you prepare for the 2016-2017 Field Trip Season.

Hagley Museum and Library is where science and history engage through the story of technology, industry, and innovation that unfolded along the banks of the Brandywine River. For more than two hundred years, the DuPont Company, the du Pont family, and their workers represented a microcosm of American industry while also making advancements in chemistry, physics, engineering, and business. Their spirit and legacy are reflected in the school programs available for students from kindergarten to high school.

Let us help you teach children about the area of Iron Hill and its diverse offerings. From the Geology of Jasper to the culture of the Lenni Lenape Indians, the Iron Hill Museum can offer a wide perspective on our local area and history. Our Programs focus on earth science, archaeology, Native American studies, natural history, and paleontology. These programs address State of Delaware Curriculum Framework standards and benchmarks.

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation offers a wide variety of teachers resources, materials, and curriculum units for use in classrooms. Developed in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education (DOE), the Social Studies Coalition of Delaware (SSCD), and classroom teachers from districts throughout the state, our lessons and materials meet the DOE Content Standards and are designed to be easily integrated into a classroom setting.Ladew Topiary Gardens (Maryland)
Field trip opportunities!

In addition to offering curriculum-based instruction in such subjects as math, science, and language arts, we also provide a range of summer camps and Scout programs—all designed to get kids off the couch and out into nature

The National Environmental Education Act of 1990 established the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, operating as the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), as an independent non-profit organization complementary to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), extending its ability to foster environmental education for all ages and in all segments of the American public.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary empowers teachers with knowledge about the tidal Delaware River and Bay, also known as the Delaware Estuary. We do this by offering free classroom materials and workshops. This instruction even counts toward teachers’ professional development requirements. We also give educators a chance to teach outdoors by partnering with them to install rain gardens, improve streambanks and more. This way, they can teach students about the estuary so they, too, will contribute to its care and preservation.

The museum is open year round for school and large group (10 or more people) visits. Please call or email to make these reservations at 410-939-5780 or lockhousemuseum@gmail.com. Except for Harford County Public Schools, visits cost $3/person. Please call the Lock House for our special Harford County Public Shool rate.

The museum offers multiple tour and program options. Two tours can be booked in one visit. Only one program can be booked during a visit, but it can be paired with a tour.

Need a few ideas to help reinforce the great things your students learned during a Winterthur school program? Need a bit of inspiration to guide your use of objects as primary sources in the classroom? Look no further! We’ve assembled some great pre-materials, and we offer workshops on a regular basis where you can try activities to use with your own students.

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If you're looking for something different than your average park, take a ride across the bay bridge to Kinder Farm Park. We are big animal lovers so when I found a playground-farm combo, it moved to the top of our list of places to go.
The playground alone was huge! The boys loved the hill slides … [Read More...]

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I am a farmer's wife and working mom of two spirited boys. Being in nature is our happy place. The Bucket chronicles our adventures on the Delmarva peninsula and beyond. We love to safely explore, touch and learn while finding and appreciating beauty in everything. Read More…